[sumo] Fwd: [Sumo news] - Ex-Hokutofuji- what's up with him these days?

[Jeff A]

Moti

Last one

Best regards,
Jeffrey Anderson
Gaijingai

For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these:
It might have been.
- John Greenleaf Whittier

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Moti Dichne <niramiai at gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Aug 29, 2026 at 5:03 AM
Subject: [Sumo news] - Ex-Hokutofuji- what's up with him these days?
To: Sumo Newsletter2 <sumo-newsletter2 at googlegroups.com>


Ooyama Oyakata (34, ex-Komusubi Hokutofuji), who retired last May,
completed his danpatsushiki this May, marking a turning point in his career
and taking a new step as an Oyakata. In an interview in late August, he
spoke about his current activities as an Oyakata and shared memories
related to his hobby of saunas. Ooyama Oyakata appeared at the keiko ba of
Hakkaku beya, and in his white mawashi, he stepped onto the dohyo to
instruct his deshi. His weight, which was once as high as 168 kg, has
dropped to about 120 kg, giving him a noticeably thinner appearance.
Nevertheless, he worked up a sweat with strength training between
instructing, and was seen lending his chest for butsugari, just as he did
during his active career. "I've always enjoyed teaching. There's a
frustrating feeling when I think, 'If it were me, I would do it this
way...', but I hope that by gradually working on it, I can share the joy
with my students. It's a kind of joy that only a leader can experience.
There's pressure, but there's also a sense of fulfillment, and the
enjoyment outweighs it." A sense of fulfillment filled his days as an
Oyakata. Ooyama Oyakata is also known for his love of saunas. During his
active career, he would go to the sauna to refresh himself during
tournaments and to relax afterward. There are many "sauna lovers" in the
sumo world, and during downtime on regional tours, he would form a "sauna
tour club" with close rikishi and staff members and visit saunas all over
the country.

What remains most memorable for Ooyama Oyakata is the final day of the 2023
Nagoya Basho. In that tournament, Hokutofuji achieved an excellent record
of 12 wins and 3 losses, earning him the Fighting Spirit Prize. Throughout
the tournament, he frequently visited "KIWAMI SAUNA" in Nishi-ku, Nagoya
City, which is close to the Hakkaku beya's lodgings, and he performed
brilliantly, competing for the yusho until the final day. In the yusho
playoff, he lost to Houshouryuu, who was a Sekiwake at the time, narrowly
missing out on his first Emperor's Cup. After the heya's senshuraku party,
he was filled with a complex mix of emotions, including regret and
exhaustion. Lacking the energy to do anything, he decided to try to change
his mood by going to his favorite sauna. He went to "Sauna Fuji" in
Naka-ku, Nagoya City, with a former tsukebito who had come from Osaka to
witness his first yusho, and a friend who had been taking care of him in
Nagoya. "When you lose and want to reset everything, a 'post-victory sauna'
with close family and friends is incredibly good. It felt so good, and all
the sweat and tears came out. Ideally, it's best to go when you've won, but
that's what remains in my memory." That day three years ago, a highlight of
his sumo career, has become an unforgettable memory, along with the sauna
experience.

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